The Novice Ranch Hand, Ford Family Ranch #1 by June Foster

Book description: 

Peyton Langley can no longer dwell on what he left behind in the jungles of Peru. Seeking a new life, Peyton answers an ad in the Texas Rancher's Journal for a job at the prominent Ford Sheep Ranch in Central Texas. Only problem, he knows nothing about ranching.

Erika Ford runs the Ford family sheep ranch in the hill country of Central Texas along with her father and two brothers. She wants to keep the legacy of the Ford ranch alive after her father retires. When a new ranch hand shows up, she pulls a gun on him believing him to be an intruder.

Erika suspects Peyton is hiding a mysterious past, but what? Can she discover the family secret her father keeps from her?

My review:
   This is a book I put on my to-read shelf and forgot about, and remembered today that I had not read it yet. I have read most of this author's books, and I think this is her best one yet. 

 I loved the setting of the story: a sheep ranch. A couple of the characters were not that likable at first - here's looking at you Jace and Charlotte - but the rest of the cast of characters were very likable, especially Peyton, Erika, Chet, and Pete.

The book focused more on Peyton, the hero of the story more than Erika, the female lead, which I liked. So many Christian fiction books tend to be geared towards women and center more of the story on a female character, so I liked the fact that the story was more about him. 

 Plot-wise, the book was also great. Peyton kept his past secret from everyone for most of the book, and a lot of the story was about his coming to peace from what had happened. He didn't seem to struggle with his faith, though he did have to forgive.

 And I loved the parts of the book about Chet and Pete, and Peyton's new mission in life to have a ranch for boys like them. 

 I really enjoyed this book, and read it in one evening. Looking forward to more in this series. 

Special thanks to the author for an review copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. She is the mother of two and grandmother of ten. June began writing Christian romance in 2010. She penned her first novel on her Toshiba laptop as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provide a rich source of information for her novels. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next book.

To date, June has written over thirty contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels and novellas. She loves to compose stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives. She's published with Winged Publications. Visit June at www.junefoster.com to see a complete list of her books.

Forgotten Identity by Penny Zeller

 

Book description:

Who is he really? And why is someone after him?

Mariah Holzman never imagined a whiteout blizzard would sever all communication from the outside world—communication desperately needed for the injured man Mariah finds near her home. Nor did she imagine helping nurse the man back to health would lead to threats and intimidation. As danger escalates and questions rise, Mariah is left to wonder what kind of person she has allowed into her home.

Grant MacGuire never imagined he would wake up one day in a strange cabin, surrounded by strange people, with no memory of who he is or how he was injured. Nor did he imagine his presence would put the lives of those who saved him in danger. As Grant struggles with distorted memories, he wonders if his life is worth the price the Holzman family is paying.

The growing attraction between Mariah and Grant is hindered by Grant’s unknown identity. Is Grant, as the family’s neighbor assumes, a criminal on the run from the law? Or is there more to his identity—and the reason he was attacked—than they realize?

My review:
  This is the second suspense novel by Zeller, who mostly writes historical romances. I thought the first book in this series, Unexpected Witness, was better, but this one was still a great read. I do love a good amnesia story.

  Loved the plot and the characters. In my not so humble opinion, kids add a lot to a story, and this one had two great and likable kids in it. That aspect of the story also added a lot when it came to protecting the family from the bad guys.

 The suspense aspect gets an A+. The author did a great job with an amnesiac character who had no idea if he was a good guy or a bad guy. The reader of course has insight Grant does not have, knowing he is a police detective. 

  The story is a somewhat slow story, but still interesting, for most of the book. Towards the end is when everything is ramped up. And the book has a terrific ending.

 Hoping the author keeps writing both genre's.

The books in this series can be read in any order.

Special thanks to the author for an advance e-book copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith-filled happily ever afters and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. Her books feature tender romance, steady doses of humor, and memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page.

While she has had a love for writing since childhood, Penny began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over two dozen books and is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, reading, running, and playing volleyball.

Penny resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers at her website at www.pennyzeller.com, her blog, www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com, and her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks where she posts faith, funnies, writing updates, and encouragement.

Check out the first book: